Saturn in Aquarius

Triton XXI, Lot: 129. Estimate $7500. Sold for $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 28.73 g, 12h). Zodiac series. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/145). AVT K T AIΛ A∆P ANTωNINOC C ЄB ЄYC, laureate head right / Saturn in Aquarius (day house) – Veiled and draped bust of Kronos left with solar disk atop head, falx (sickle) behind shoulder; star of eight rays to left; below, youth swimming left, looking back over his shoulder, wearing chlamys and holding an inverted amphora with both hands; L H (date) below. Köln 1506 var. (without falx); Dattari (Savio) 2979 & 8836; K&G 35.274; Emmett 1596.8 (rev. of this coin illustrated on p. 74A); Curtis, “The Coinage of Roman Egypt: A Survey” (reprinted from The Numismatist, January-August 1956), Pl. XXVIII (this coin’s reverse illustrated); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 149 (this coin). Good VF, beautiful dark brown patina with smooth surfaces. Very rare. Comparable to the two specimens that we have recently sold (Triton XX, lot 379 & CNG 88, lot 1095). Whereas the coin in CNG 88 is technically a higher grade, this coin has superior surfaces.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions XIII, 4 December 1990), lot 174; William B. Porter Collection; Carl W.A. Carlson Collection; Col. James W. Curtis Collection.

A wonderful coin that Giovanni describes as “Affascinante!” (Charming!) in his book.